The man who took down the Texas church gunman

Stephen Willeford is being hailed a hero for chasing down the gunman in the Texas church shooting, but he doesn't see it that way.
USA TODAY

Steven Willeford, the hailed as a hero for helping to bring down the shooter is embraced by Sutherland Springs community members Monday during a prayer vigil to honor the 26 who where killed in the First Baptist Church shooting.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas — One minute he was relaxing barefoot at his home. In the next, Stephen Willeford stood behind a pickup truck, firing the shots that led to the demise of the gunman who massacred 26 people in a church.

And Willeford still had no shoes on.

The 55-year-old plumber and experienced rifleman is heralded as a hero by local police here. Devin Kelley fatally shot 26 people and had just exited First Baptist Church when Willeford surprised him.

"I was scared for my own family, who live a half a block away," Willeford said, describing his instinct to run out of his house after his daughter told him someone was shooting up the church.

"I kept hearing the shots, one after another, very rapid shots - just 'pop pop pop pop' and I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they weren't just random shots," Willeford told 40/29 News TV.

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Chairs with roses mark where victims where found in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. A memorial was created in the sanctuary of the church and opened to the public on Nov. 5, 2017, one week after the attack. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWO

Rachel Vasquez places flowers along the fence surrounding First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 12, 2017. One week earlier 25 people and an unborn child were killed in a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Nearly 300 people congregated in a makeshift church for a closed Sunday service one week after the mass shooting in the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 12, 2017. R. Tomas Gonzalez, EPA-EFE

Stephen Hope carries a cross in the rain outside the tent near the Sutherland Springs ball park where the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs held their first service one week after the shooting that left 25 people and an unborn child dead. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-TX, and his wife Sandy Cornyn leave their condolences for the victims of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs' First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 12, 2017. R. Tomas Gonzalez, EPA-EFE

Sam, bottom, and Morgan Stinson, Ohio residents who were vacationing in Texas, leave their condolences for the 26 people who died after a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs' First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 12, 2017. R. Tomas Gonzalez, EPA-EFE

San Antonio resident, Rey Flores kneels near a cross left for a memorial for the people who died after a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs' First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 12, 2017. R. Tomas Gonzalez, EPA-EFE

A tarp is wrapped around the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs as law enforcement officials wrap up their investigation into the shooting on Nov. 9, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Charlene Uhl, right, is comforted as she views a cross with the name and picture of her 16-year-old daughter, Haley Krueger, at a memorial where 26 crosses were placed to honor the 26 victims killed at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on November 9, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Police remove a road block as they begin to wrap up their investigation of the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 9, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Barbara Solano, center, places flowers at a makeshift memorial for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting on Nov. 9, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. A man opened fire inside the church in the small South Texas community on Sunday, killing more than two dozen and injuring others. David J. Phillip, AP

A police officer nails a Texas Highway Patrol patch to a power pole at a memorial to the 26 victims killed at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 9, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Joshua John of Roanoke, Virginia prays at a memorial where 26 crosses were placed to honor the 26 victims killed at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 9, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Scott Olson, Getty Images

Vice President Of The United States Mike Pence speaks during a vigil for the Sutherland Springs church shooting of victims at the Floresville high school football field on Nov. 8, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Vice President Of The United States Mike Pence speaks during a vigil for the Sutherland Springs church shooting of victims at the Floresville high school football field on Nov. 8, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Vice President Mike Pence hugs Evelyn Holcombe at Florseville High School during a stop on Nov. 8, 2017, in Floresville, Texas. A man opened fire inside a church in Sutherland Springs on Sunday, killing and wounding many; Holcombe was in the church during the shooting but escaped. Eric Gay, AP

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in wheelchair, receives a hug from Karen Pence, as he and wife, Cecilia Abbott, welcome Vice President Mike Pence on Nov. 8, 2017, in San Antonio. Pence traveled to Texas to visit victims of the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting at a local hospital, as well as visit with the families of the victims and participate in a prayer vigil. Eric Gay, AP

Joshua John Fitch carries a cross past the First Baptist Church which was the scene of the mass shooting that killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 8, 2017. Mark Ralston, AFP/Getty Images

Alison Gould ,17 talks about her 16-year-old friend, Haley Krueger, who was killed in the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Gould left a stuffed animal at the makeshift memorial near the scene on Nov. 8, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Community members bow their head to pray during a prayer vigil for the victims of the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting at Floresville high school stadium on Nov. 7, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Flags fly at half staff during a memorial service for victims of the mass shooting that killed 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas, at the La Vernia High School on Nov. 7, 2017. Mark Ralston, AFP/Getty Images

A women wipes way tears during a prayer vigil for the victims of the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church shooting at Floresville high school stadium on Nov. 7, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Derrick Bernaden of San Antonio waves burning sage over the 26 crosses honoring those who died in the First Baptist Church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 7, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin, speaks during a press conference near the scene of the shooting at the First Baptist Church Sutherland Springs, TX. Courtney Sacco, USA TODAY NETWORK

Members of the Sutherland Springs community hold up their cellphones Monday night during a prayer vigil to honor the 26 who where killed in the First Baptist Church shooting, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today N

Steven Willeford, who has been hailed as a hero for helping to bring down the shooter is embraced by Sutherland Springs community members during a prayer vigil to honor the 26 who where killed in the First Baptist Church shooting, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Flowers lay at the road block leading to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs the day after a shooting that multiple people dead, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Johnnie Langendorff speaks to reporters about the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 6, 2017. Langendorff says he and another man chased down the gunman after he fled the church. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Police officials work in front of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs the day after a mass shooting that left 26 dead, Nov. 6, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, TX. Casey Jackson, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

A Texas state trooper stands infront of a closed road leading to First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs the day after a shooting that left many dead, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Mona Rodriguez holds her 12-year-old son, J. Anthony Hernandez, during a candlelight vigil held for the victims of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackett speaks to the media outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs the day after a shooting that left 26 dead, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Texas state troopers stand infant of the closed road leading to First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs the day after a shooting that left 26 daed, Nov. 6, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA TODAY Network

Community members gather for a vigil across the street from the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs where 26 people where killed in shooting Nov. 5, 2017. Courtney Sacco, Caller-Times via the USA Today Network

Community members attend a vigil for the victims of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. Courtney Sacco/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Community members gather for a vigil across the street from the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where 26 people where killed in shooting on Nov. 5, 2017. Courtney Sacco/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference following a shooting that left 26 dead at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. Courtney Sacco/Corpus ChristiCaller-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK

A couple comfort each other at a community center in Sutherland Springs, Texas, near the scene of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church on Nov. 5, 2017. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. Matula said she heard the shooting from the gas station where she works a block away. Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Law enforcement officials stand next to a covered body at the scene of a fatal shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2017. Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP

Willeford came to a vigil Monday night in honor of the victims. He was the center of attention.

More than a dozen members of the still-stunned community enveloped him in an emotional group hug that almost resembled a huddle at a pickup football game as religious music filled the air.

“He is the nicest guy you ever want to meet,” said Ron Leonard, Willeford’s cousin who has been at his side almost ever since the gunfire stopped. “He’d give you the shirt off his back. In fact, he’s kind of a little bit embarrassed by all this.”

Earlier, Leonard gently pushed back news cameras when they realized Willeford, absent from public view since the massacre, had joined more than 100 residents at the town’s athletic complex.

Willeford said he had very little time to think Sunday when his daughter told him about the shooting. He loaded his magazine and ran across the street to the church, not even taking the time to put on shoes. When Willeford saw the gunman, he exchanged gunfire.

"He saw me and I saw him," Willeford said in the TV interview. "I was standing behind a pickup truck for cover."

At least one of the shots that Willeford fired struck Kelley through the protective body armor that the killer was wearing.

Steven Willeford, the hailed as a hero for helping to bring down the shooter is embraced by several Sutherland Springs during a prayer vigil to honor the 26 who where killed in the First Baptist Church shooting on Sunday.(Photo: Courtney Sacco/Caller-Times)

"I know I hit him," Willeford said. "He got into his vehicle, and he fired another couple rounds through his side window. When the window dropped, I fired another round at him again."

The gunman then sped down the highway.

Willeford spotted a pickup truck at a stop sign. He ran to the truck and asked the driver for help.

"That guy just shot up the Baptist church. We need to stop him," Willeford told the driver.

Willeford had help from another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who said he was driving past the church as the shooting happened. The armed man asked to get in Langendorff's truck, and the pair followed as the gunman drove away.

"He jumped in my truck and said, 'He just shot up the church. We need to go get him.' And I said 'Let's go,'" Langendorff said.

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Johnnie Langendorff was driving near First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs when he saw the gunman exchanging fire with another man. Hear what happened next.
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The pursuit reached speeds up to 90 mph. The gunman eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed. The armed man walked up to the vehicle with his gun drawn, and the attacker did not move. Police arrived about five minutes later, Langendorff said.

The assailant was dead in his vehicle. He had three gunshot wounds — two from where the armed man hit him in the leg and the torso and the third self-inflicted wound to the head, authorities said.